19.November 2025
BELIEVE HIS PROPHETS
Daily Bible Reading
Judges 6 – Gideon: From Hidden to Called
How God turns a hesitant man into an instrument of deliverance
Bible Text – Judges 6 (KJV)
1 And the children of Israel did evil in the sight of the Lord: and the Lord delivered them into the hand of Midian seven years.
2 And the hand of Midian prevailed against Israel: and because of the Midianites the children of Israel made them the dens which are in the mountains, and caves, and strong holds.
3 And so it was, when Israel had sown, that the Midianites came up, and the Amalekites, and the children of the east, even they came up against them;
4 And they encamped against them, and destroyed the increase of the earth, till thou come unto Gaza, and left no sustenance for Israel, neither sheep, nor ox, nor ass.
5 For they came up with their cattle and their tents, and they came as grasshoppers for multitude; for both they and their camels were without number: and they entered into the land to destroy it.
6 And Israel was greatly impoverished because of the Midianites; and the children of Israel cried unto the Lord.
7 And it came to pass, when the children of Israel cried unto the Lord because of the Midianites,
8 That the Lord sent a prophet unto the children of Israel, which said unto them, Thus saith the Lord God of Israel, I brought you up from Egypt, and brought you forth out of the house of bondage;
9 And I delivered you out of the hand of the Egyptians, and out of the hand of all that oppressed you, and drave them out from before you, and gave you their land;
10 And I said unto you, I am the Lord your God; fear not the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but ye have not obeyed my voice.
11 And there came an angel of the Lord, and sat under an oak which was in Ophrah, that pertained unto Joash the Abiezrite: and his son Gideon threshed wheat by the winepress, to hide it from the Midianites.
12 And the angel of the Lord appeared unto him, and said unto him, The Lord is with thee, thou mighty man of valour.
13 And Gideon said unto him, Oh my Lord, if the Lord be with us, why then is all this befallen us? and where be all his miracles which our fathers told us of, saying, Did not the Lord bring us up from Egypt? but now the Lord hath forsaken us, and delivered us into the hands of the Midianites.
14 And the Lord looked upon him, and said, Go in this thy might, and thou shalt save Israel from the hand of the Midianites: have not I sent thee?
15 And he said unto him, Oh my Lord, wherewith shall I save Israel? behold, my family is poor in Manasseh, and I am the least in my father’s house.
16 And the Lord said unto him, Surely I will be with thee, and thou shalt smite the Midianites as one man.
17 And he said unto him, If now I have found grace in thy sight, then shew me a sign that thou talkest with me.
18 Depart not hence, I pray thee, until I come unto thee, and bring forth my present, and set it before thee. And he said, I will tarry until thou come again.
19 And Gideon went in, and made ready a kid, and unleavened cakes of an ephah of flour: the flesh he put in a basket, and he put the broth in a pot, and brought it out unto him under the oak, and presented it.
20 And the angel of God said unto him, Take the flesh and the unleavened cakes, and lay them upon this rock, and pour out the broth. And he did so.
21 Then the angel of the Lord put forth the end of the staff that was in his hand, and touched the flesh and the unleavened cakes; and there rose up fire out of the rock, and consumed the flesh and the unleavened cakes. Then the angel of the Lord departed out of his sight.
22 And when Gideon perceived that he was an angel of the Lord, Gideon said, Alas, O Lord God! for because I have seen an angel of the Lord face to face.
23 And the Lord said unto him, Peace be unto thee; fear not: thou shalt not die.
24 Then Gideon built an altar there unto the Lord, and called it Jehovahshalom: unto this day it is yet in Ophrah of the Abiezrites.
25 And it came to pass the same night, that the Lord said unto him, Take thy father’s young bullock, even the second bullock of seven years old, and throw down the altar of Baal that thy father hath, and cut down the grove that is by it:
26 And build an altar unto the Lord thy God upon the top of this rock, in the ordered place, and take the second bullock, and offer a burnt sacrifice with the wood of the grove which thou shalt cut down.
27 Then Gideon took ten men of his servants, and did as the Lord had said unto him: and so it was, because he feared his father’s household, and the men of the city, that he could not do it by day, that he did it by night.
28 And when the men of the city arose early in the morning, behold, the altar of Baal was cast down, and the grove was cut down that was by it, and the second bullock was offered upon the altar that was built.
29 And they said one to another, Who hath done this thing? And when they enquired and asked, they said, Gideon the son of Joash hath done this thing.
30 Then the men of the city said unto Joash, Bring out thy son, that he may die: because he hath cast down the altar of Baal, and because he hath cut down the grove that was by it.
31 And Joash said unto all that stood against him, Will ye plead for Baal? will ye save him? he that will plead for him, let him be put to death whilst it is yet morning: if he be a god, let him plead for himself, because one hath cast down his altar.
32 Therefore on that day he called him Jerubbaal, saying, Let Baal plead against him, because he hath thrown down his altar.
33 Then all the Midianites and the Amalekites and the children of the east were gathered together, and went over, and pitched in the valley of Jezreel.
34 But the Spirit of the Lord came upon Gideon, and he blew a trumpet; and Abiezer was gathered after him.
35 And he sent messengers throughout all Manasseh; who also was gathered after him: and he sent messengers unto Asher, and unto Zebulun, and unto Naphtali; and they came up to meet them.
36 And Gideon said unto God, If thou wilt save Israel by mine hand, as thou hast said,
37 Behold, I will put a fleece of wool in the floor; and if the dew be on the fleece only, and it be dry upon all the earth beside, then shall I know that thou wilt save Israel by mine hand, as thou hast said.
38 And it was so: for he rose up early on the morrow, and thrust the fleece together, and wringed the dew out of the fleece, a bowl full of water.
39 And Gideon said unto God, Let not thine anger be hot against me, and I will speak but this once: let me prove, I pray thee, but this once with the fleece; let it now be dry only upon the fleece, and upon all the ground let there be dew.
40 And God did so that night: for it was dry upon the fleece only, and there was dew on all the ground.
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Introduction
Sometimes God calls precisely those who feel unqualified or too weak. Gideon is such a man: fearful, doubting, insecure. But God does not only see what a person is—He sees what they can become through Him. This story vividly shows how God builds trust with patience, signs, and strength, calling an ordinary man into spiritual leadership.
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Commentary
1. Israel’s Misery and Cry for Help (Verses 1–10)
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Israel once again does what is evil in the sight of the Lord—result: oppression by the Midianites.
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The people hide, suffering from robbery and destruction.
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In their distress they cry out to the Lord.
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God sends a prophet—His first spiritual response: a reminder of deliverance but also of their disobedience.
Lesson: God does not always answer first with action, but with truth.
2. Gideon’s Calling – The Call of the Unlikely (Verses 11–24)
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Gideon hides while threshing—out of fear.
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The Angel of the Lord appears: “The Lord is with you, mighty warrior!”
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Gideon doubts: If God is with us, why all this suffering?
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God does not look at Gideon’s weakness but at His own strength working through him.
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Gideon asks for a sign—God responds with fire from the rock.
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Gideon recognizes God’s presence and builds an altar: “The Lord is Peace.”
Lesson: God does not call the qualified—He qualifies the called.
3. The First Assignment: Cleansing His Own House (Verses 25–32)
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Gideon must destroy his father’s altar of Baal and build an altar for the Lord.
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Out of fear he acts at night—but he obeys.
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The town wants to kill him—yet his father defends him: “If Baal is a god, let him plead for himself.”
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Gideon receives a new name: Jerubbaal—“Let Baal contend with him.”
Lesson: True discipleship begins with removing idols—starting at home.
4. God’s Spirit Fills Gideon – He Gathers the People (Verses 33–35)
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The enemies gather once more.
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The Spirit of the Lord comes upon Gideon.
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He blows the trumpet, calls the tribes—people follow him.
Lesson: God’s calling comes with equipping—and opens doors previously closed.
5. The Sign of the Fleece – Gideon’s Struggle with Doubt (Verses 36–40)
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Despite the signs, Gideon asks again for confirmation.
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God responds patiently: once the fleece is wet and the ground dry—then the opposite.
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God meets Gideon’s uncertainty—not with anger, but with grace.
Lesson: God knows our hearts. Genuine doubt can be brought to Him in prayer.
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Summary
Judges 6 tells the story of a weak man in a difficult time. Gideon lives in hiding, full of fear—yet God meets him with a strong promise. Step by step, God leads Gideon into faith: through signs, assignments, testing, and the work of the Holy Spirit. What begins in weakness ends in trust and calling.
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Message for Today
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God uses ordinary people—even those full of doubt.
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True revival begins at home: Gideon’s first assignment concerns his father’s house.
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God’s calling includes responsibility—but also His presence.
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Doubts are allowed—as long as they are brought before God in prayer.
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The peace of God begins where idols are torn down.
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Reflection Thought
What keeps me from accepting God’s calling for my life?
Where do I hide in fear—rather than walking in God’s strength?
Which “altars” in my life need to be torn down?
Do I trust that God knows my weakness—and still can send me?
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16–22 November 2025
BELIEVE HIS PROPHETS
Weekly Reading – Spirit of Prophecy
Ellen White | Patriarchs and Prophets – Chapter 41
Apostasy at the Jordan | Warning against spiritual apostasy and moral seduction
Read online here
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Introduction
The people of Israel stood directly at the border of the promised land. After great victories and divine guidance, the long-awaited homeland was within reach. But precisely in this moment of outward success, rest, and comfort came one of the worst spiritual collapses in Israel’s history: the apostasy at Baal-Peor.
This chapter vividly describes how moral seduction, spiritual unfaithfulness, and worldly mingling separated God’s people from their Lord—and what deep spiritual lessons it holds for us today.
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Commentary
1. The surroundings of Shittim – beauty and danger
Israel camped in a fertile, tropical plain by the Jordan. Outward prosperity, pleasant surroundings, and rest felt relaxing—but also disarming. This phase of leisure became a spiritual trap.
2. The secret seduction by the Midianite women
Midianite women entered the camp unobtrusively. Their intention was not friendship, but targeted seduction into sin. Under the guise of harmony and culture, the Israelites were to be led into idolatry and moral excess.
3. The feast in honor of the idols – Balaam’s strategy
Balaam, who had previously been unable to curse Israel, now found another way: he led the people close to temptation. Music, wine, cheerful feasting, and sensual allure undermined their self-control. Moral fall turned into idolatry.
4. The deadly plague – the consequences of apostasy
The spiritual and moral collapse had catastrophic consequences:
– A plague broke out that took tens of thousands.
– The leaders of the apostasy were judged.
– The camp underwent drastic purification.
5. The zeal of Phinehas
With holy determination, Phinehas acted to stop the judgment.
God affirmed his action and granted him the “covenant of peace”—an everlasting priesthood.
The message: God’s zeal against sin is an expression of His love for His people.
6. God’s judgment on Midian
Because Midian had deliberately led Israel into sin, divine judgment followed.
The lesson: those who cause others to fall spiritually bear tremendous responsibility.
7. The timeless warning—from the Old Testament to the end times
The account is not merely past. Paul explicitly states:
“This happened to them as an example … written for our admonition.” (1 Cor. 10:11)
Just as then:
– Seduction through pleasures
– Blending with worldly values
– moral dullness
– playing with temptation
still lead us away from God.
8. The spiritual mechanism of falling
The decline does not begin suddenly, but:
– thoughts become impure
– vigilance weakens
– prayer is neglected
– association with the world becomes careless
– small compromises accumulate
– in the end, a person visibly falls into sin
9. God’s way of escape: purity of heart
The Bible calls for a sanctified, guarded inner life:
– “Guard your heart” (Prov. 4:23)
– “Gird up the loins of your mind” (1 Pet. 1:13)
– “Whatever is true… think on these things!” (Phil. 4:8)
– “Create in me a clean heart” (Ps. 51:10)
Victory over temptation always begins in the heart—not in outward behavior.
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Summary
The apostasy at the Jordan shows that the greatest enemy of God’s people is not external threats but inner susceptibility. Israel did not fall by war, but by moral corruption and spiritual negligence. The path into sin began quietly, led to open excess, and ended in heavy judgment. Yet God offers purity, renewal, and protection to those who remain watchful and treasure His Word in their hearts.
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Message for Us Today
Spiritually speaking, we stand just as close to the “heavenly Canaan” as Israel did then. That is why the danger today is great—to fall in this final phase of history through comfort, worldly blending, or moral temptation. Satan uses the same means as then:
– sensual allure
– love of pleasure
– mingling with godless values
– neglect of prayer
– compromises in thinking
Therefore God’s call is:
Watchfulness, purity of heart, separation from destructive influences, and deep connection with His Word.
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Reflection Questions
What “Shittim moments” are there in my life—times of rest or self-satisfaction when I am particularly vulnerable to temptation? And how can I guard my heart before small compromises grow into great sins?
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16–22 November 2025
BELIEVE HIS PROPHETS
Weekly Reading – Spirit of Prophecy
Ellen White | Patriarchs and Prophets – Chapter 42
The Law Repeated | Moses’ final exhortations and God’s enduring call to obedience
Read online here
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Introduction
Shortly before entering the promised land, Moses gathers the people of Israel one last time. He knows that his time as leader is ending—and that he himself will not enter Canaan. But before he departs, he repeats God’s law and reminds them of the great responsibility connected with the covenant with God. In a passionate, far-reaching appeal, he calls the people to faithfulness, obedience, and a choice for life.
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Commentary
1. Moses’ farewell in humility and concern
Moses asks God to allow him to go into the land—God does not permit it. Yet Moses accepts God’s decision and is not concerned about himself but about the people. He asks for a successor—and God chooses Joshua.
2. Joshua’s calling – a spiritual leader appointed
God chooses Joshua, “a man in whom is the Spirit” (Num. 27:18). Moses lays hands on him before the whole nation, investing him with authority. This shows: leadership is not human ambition but a divine commission.
3. Why the law needed to be repeated
The new generation was young at Sinai. They needed to hear God’s law again—to understand why obedience is the foundation for blessing, safety, and fellowship with God. The repetition was meant to touch heart and conscience anew.
4. Looking back at God’s guidance and grace
Moses reminds Israel of:
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the deliverance from Egypt
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the miracles in the wilderness
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the giving of the law
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God’s nearness
He shows: No other nation was ever so loved, guided, and blessed by God.
5. Israel—chosen out of love, not merit
“Not because you were more in number… but because He loved you” (Deut. 7:7–9). God’s covenant is based on faithfulness and grace—not on Israel’s strength. This truth is central to prevent pride and self-righteousness.
6. The promised land – both gift and responsibility
Moses describes the land: fertile, beautiful, supplied by God. But the warning follows immediately: When you are full, do not forget the Lord (Deut. 6:10–12). Prosperity can become a danger if it creates spiritual drowsiness.
7. Blessing and curse – the choice of life
Chapter 28 contains two mighty lists:
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Blessing for obedience: abundance, protection, success
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Curse for disobedience: hardship, scattering, judgment
These warnings were tragically fulfilled in Israel’s history—among them the destruction of Jerusalem by Rome.
8. The solemn appeal: Choose life!
“I have set before you life and death, blessing and curse… therefore choose life” (Deut. 30:19).
God does not force—He calls. Obedience is not external duty but a decision born of love for God.
9. The Song of Moses – remembrance in poetic form
To imprint everything, Moses composes a song. It recounts God’s dealings and warns toward faithfulness. The people are to memorize it and pass it on to future generations—God’s truth is meant to penetrate the heart.
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Summary
Chapter 42 is Moses’ final great appearance before his death. He repeats the law, calls the people to decision, and transfers leadership to Joshua. The heart of his message: Israel was chosen by grace—now they are to respond with obedience and love. Blessing and curse lie openly before them. The choice is theirs.
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Message for Us Today
We too stand spiritually at the border of the “promised land”—the second coming of Jesus. God’s law still stands as the standard for our lives. The choice between life and death, obedience or our own path, arises anew each day. Prosperity, routine, and spiritual indifference are the same dangers now as then. God’s call applies to us as well:
– Choose life.
– Hold fast to the Word.
– Teach it to your children.
– Live with God—and for God.
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Reflection Questions
What shapes my daily decisions—comfort or obedience? Is God’s law alive in my heart—or merely a duty? How can others tell that I have chosen life with God? How can I pass on the spiritual heritage to the next generation?
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